The RSPCA has started using the first of six new Crafter vans, marking the fruition of a three-year partnership with Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.
The partnership is designed to save the lives of thousands of animals across England and Wales by helping transport 20,000 animals in need of care all over the country, saving the charity £800,000 a year, and allowing it to give treatment to more animals in need of veterinary care.
To meet the very specialist needs of the RSPCA, the short wheelbase CR30 2.0-litre TDI 136 PS BlueMotion Crafter vans have also been converted and - as with all Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ ‘Engineered for You’ vehicles – tailored to suit the organisation’s specific requirements.
Adjustments include the load-space being fully sealed with a spray-on waterproof liner in order to enable the charity’s workers to easily wash out the vans after use, as well as the roofs of the vans being fitted with a ‘Flettner Ventilator’, in order to provide the animals in the back with a constant stream of fresh air.
The Crafters have also each been fitted with a total of nine bespoke cages, which vary in size to suit all animals, from a small cat to a large dog. All cages also have removable partitions between them to allow the RSPCA to pick up and transport more ‘unusual’ passengers.
The vans have all been wrapped in the colourful winning designs of school children, who were challenged to design the outside as part of a nationwide competition.
Operational benefits for the RSPCA include low wholelife costs with fuel economy of 39.8 mpg (combined) and CO2 emissions of 187g/km.
Chris Black, head of fleet for Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, said: "This partnership with the RSPCA demonstrates our ongoing commitment to working with Britain’s businesses and organisations."
Matthew Cull, the RSPCA’s high value giving manager, said: "The impact this commitment from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles will have on the day to day management of our core animal welfare activity is huge.
"The Networking Project allows our staff on the frontline at animal centres to make the best decisions and use all our available resources in the most cost effective and efficient way. The Crafters are key to making this happen."
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